The Big 12 (or Big XII, if you prefer) is one of the more competitive conferences in the country, In the South division, you have national powers like Oklahoma and Texas battling it out with insurgents like Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, but in the North the teams are decidedly weaker. However, that doesn't mean it won’t be competitive just the same, and indeed there are co-favorites to win this division and earn a trip to the conference title game,

Let's look at the odds and a capsule on each team:

Football Odds To Win Big 12 North:

Colorado +500
Iowa State +2500
Kansas +175
Kansas State +650
Missouri +325
Nebraska +175


The thing that makes KANSAS (+175 ) such an interesting proposition, and gives them an edge over Nebraska, is that they have their quarterback returning for his senior year, and he is certainly the most experienced signal-caller in this division. Todd Reesing piled up the numbers last year, completing 66.5% of his passes. The Jayhawks also bring back the most dynamic duo of receivers in the conference in Kerry Meier (97 catches, 1045 yards) and Dezmon Briscoe (92 catches, 1407 yards), who made 14 receptions when Kansas defeated Minnesota in the Insight Bowl. One of the keys here is that Jake Sharp gave all indications that he can help Kansas get a legitimate rushing game going. He had 860 yards and 4.6 per carry last season. On defense, coach Mark Mangino and coordinator Clint Bowen are planning on going more and more with five defensive backs and two linebackers, because of the fact that most Big 12 teams are becoming pass-happy. That's not a bad thing, because it plays a little more into Kansas' strengths (experience and depth in the secondary) and less into the weaknesses (losing all starters there). The Jayhawks visit Texas and Texas Tech, but get Oklahoma and Nebraska

NEBRASKA (+175) has a big hole to fill, with quarterback Joe Ganz having graduated and set to be replaced by Zac Lee. He's the son of former NFL QB Bob Lee, who played with the Vikings and Falcons. Lee is not ill-equipped, and he'll have help from running backs Roy Helu Jr. and Quentin Castille, who are very capable. The wide receivers will have to step up, as top wideouts Nate Swift and Todd Peterson were lost. The focus of the Huskers' improvement last year (nine wins, including a win over Clemson in the Gator Bowl) was the defense, and will continue to be. Coach Bo Pelini, who was the defensive coordinator at LSU, brought a tougher mind set to the job, and he has athletes to work with on his stop unit. One of them is All-American candidate Ndamukong Suh at defensive tackle. Pelini's secondary is deep enough to compete in this conference. You can't say the same about the linebacking crew, but there are a lot of freshmen who will be counted on. The Huskers have to travel to Kansas and Missouri, and those will be key games if they want to be in this division race.

MISSOURI (+325) probably has the biggest re-shaping job in this division, as some very big guns on the offense have left. Replacements must be found for quarterback Chase Daniel, who completed 73% of his passes, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, and tight end Chase Coffman, an All-American and Mackey Award winner. All told, the Tigers have lost 22 seniors from last year's Big 12 North title squad. Chase Patton, Daniel's backup, has also graduated, so Blaine Gabbert will take over the QB job. Gabbert has different dimensions than Daniel, and a different style, which means that the Missouri offense may take on a different character. As it is, the running game should play a more prominent role, as junior back Derrick Washington will try to build on the 17 touchdowns he scored last season (along with 1078 yards). This defense allowed 27 points per game last season, and lost seven starters, so this is not going to be a picnic.

COLORADO (+500) has an interesting quarterback battle going on, because it involves the coach's son. Cody Hawkins, son of Dan Hawkins, completed 57% last season and is being pushed this year by Tyler Hansen, who is a better runner and perhaps a better fit in the spread offense. The potential upside here is running back Darrell Scott, who came to Boulder as the highest-rated freshman recruit in the country at his position, but was never in real shape and never a factor. He has to rebound from injuries as well. Only four starters return on defense, but a lot of people have faith in Dan Hawkins, who built a successful program at Boise State prior to getting to CU.

At KANSAS STATE (+650), they reached back into the past to get their answers. That meant bringing back coach Bill Snyder, who had built K-State into a veritable bully back in the 1990's. Josh Freeman was a productive quarterback who didn't get enough attention in the QB-rich Big 12 but got respect from NFL scouts, as he was the first-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. To replace Freeman, Snyder might go with Carson Coffman, another son of former Green Bay Packer tight end Paul Coffman (like brother Chase). He would probably prefer to turn to Daniel Thomas, a junior college transfer who primarily runs with the ball, which is the way Snyder likes it. Kansas State was searching for a consistent rushing game last year and now they hope to get something out of another junior college transfer, Keithen Valentine. Eight starters return on defense, but inasmuch as this was a unit that allowed 37 points per game in 2008, there is a lot of work to be done.

IOWA STATE (+2500) has brought back former assistant Paul Rhoads to replace Gene Chizik, who deserted a sinking ship and bolted for the job at Auburn (whatever he did to deserve it, we don't know). Ironically, Rhoads was an assistant at Auburn last year. Austen Arnaud (2762 yards passing, 511 rushing) returns for him at quarterback, and should be better, and with depth in the receiving corps, this will be a team that puts more points on the board. Preventing points should be a little easier, as Rhoads is someone who emphasizes that side of the ball. Of course, they couldn't help but get better, after allowing almost 36 points per


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